Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings are currently sharing hosting duties as the network searches for a new permanent host for the show; the revival began airing in 1984 with the late Alex Trebek at the helm. While Trebek was a beloved member of the series, there is another person that deserves recognition but didn’t get it—the enigmatic announcer Johnny Gilbert. Gilbert turned 94 on July 13, but neither the show’s Wednesday or Thursday episodes included any mention of his big day. Fans expected Jeopardy! to mention Gilbert’s birthday with one fan even taking to Twitter to remind them the day before: “Please honor Johnny Gilbert’s 94th birthday on July 13th. Shout it from the rooftops!” When it didn’t happen, some fans were utterly confused. While some blamed Bialik for the missing tribute, others argued that it’s the producers fault that Gilbert’s birthday wasn’t included, as one fan said, “A newcomer to the show, [Bialik] wouldn’t be expected to know Johnny’s birthday. But the producers certainly WOULD!” Along with that, the episodes are filmed a while in advance, so it’s possible the host and contestants don’t know what date the show will air at the time of filming. However, fans of Jeopardy! and Gilbert rallied together to wish the 94-year-old announcer a happy birthday on Twitter. One fan wrote: “Happy birthday to the greatest announcer on television, Jeopardy!’s own Johnny Gilbert!” As of right now, the Jeopardy! Twitter account hasn’t posted anything about Gilbert, and it’s unclear why there wasn’t at least a short reference to his birthday in recent episodes considering he’s a big part of the show’s longevity and success. Gilbert is still announcing for Jeopardy! after working alongside Trebek for many years. He likely tapes all the episodes airing now from a studio in his home, as he revealed to USA Today in 2021. Next, Watch: Jeopardy! Champion Ryan Long Posts Inspirational Message to Fans
